Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of severe vision loss in older individuals in developed countries. Despite advances in our understanding of AMD, its pathophysiology remains poorly understood. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) have been proposed to play a role in AMD development. In this study, we aimed to characterize MMP-13 in AMD. We used retinal pigment epithelial cells, a murine model of laser-induced choroidal neovascularization, and plasma samples from patients with neovascular AMD to conduct our study. Our results show that MMP13 expression significantly increased under oxidative stress conditions in cultured retinal pigment epithelial cells. In the murine model, MMP13 was overexpressed in both retinal pigment epithelial cells and endothelial cells during choroidal neovascularization. Additionally, the total MMP13 levels in the plasma of patients with neovascular AMD were significantly lower than those in the control group. This suggests a reduced diffusion from the tissues or release from circulating cells in the bloodstream, given that the number and function of monocytes have been reported to be deficient in patients with AMD. Although more studies are needed to elucidate the role of MMP13 in AMD, it could be a promising therapeutic target for treating AMD.

The main aim of this study was to compare refraction measurements with and without cycloplegia from two refractors devices, (TRK-2P autorefractometer (TRK-2P) and wavefront-based refraction Visionix 130 (VX130)) in children and adolescents. This descriptive observational study included 20 myopic eyes and 40 hyperopic eyes measured in two different Spanish hospitals. Cycloplegia was carried out by three drops of cyclopentolate hydrochloride 1% (Colircusi cycloplegic, Alcon Healthcare S.A., Barcelona). The mean age of the myopia group was 12.40 +/- 3.48 years; for the hyperopia group, the mean age was 7.37 +/- 2.47 years. In the myopia group, autorefraction and wavefront-based refraction did not show clinically significant differences in any components between with and without cycloplegia. The hyperopia group showed statistical and clinically significant differences in sphere and SE components between relaxed and non-relaxed states of accommodation, although the cylindrical components were not clinically different. In this study, we considered a value of >= 0.50D as a clinically significant difference in refraction. Therefore, both devices were capable of obtaining accurate refractions without cyclopegia in myopia children, although they did not avoid instrument myopia and accommodation involved in hyperopia children. Moreover, both refractometers could be useful for astigmatism monitoring in children without the need for cycloplegic drops.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is currently the main cause of severe visual loss among older adults in developed countries. The pathophysiology has not been clarified, but oxidative stress is believed to play a major role. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) may play a prominent role in several steps of the pathophysiology of AMD, especially in its neovascular form; therefore, there is of great interest in understanding their role in choroidal neovascularisation. This study aimed to elucidate the role of MMP10 in the development of choroidal neovascularisation (CNV). We have demonstrated that MMP10 was expressed by retinal pigment epithelium cells and endothelial cells of the neovascular membrane, in cell culture, mouse and human retina. MMP10 expression and activity increased under oxidative stress conditions in ARPE-19 cells. MMP10(-/-) mice developed smaller laser-induced areas of CNV. Furthermore, to exclude a systemic MMP10 imbalance in these patients, plasma MMP10 concentrations were assessed in an age- and sex-matched sample of 52 control patients and 52 patients with neovascular AMD and no significant differences were found between the groups, demonstrating that MMP10 induction is a local phenomenon. Our findings suggest that MMP10 participates in the development of choroidal neovascularisation and promotes MMP10 as a possible new therapeutic target.

Purpose To assess the effect of clinical factors on the development and progression of atrophy and fibrosis in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) receiving long-term treatment in the real world. Methods An ambispective 36-month multicentre study, involving 359 nAMD patients from 17 Spanish hospitals treated according to the Spanish Vitreoretinal Society guidelines, was designed. The influence of demographic and clinical factors, including the presence and location of retinal fluid, on best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and progression to atrophy and/or fibrosis were analysed. Results After 36 months of follow-up and an average of 13.8 anti-VEGF intravitreal injections, the average BCVA gain was +1.5 letters, and atrophy and/or fibrosis were present in 54.8% of nAMD patients (OR = 8.54, 95% CI = 5.85-12.47, compared to baseline). Atrophy was associated with basal intraretinal fluid (IRF) (OR = 1.87, 95% CI = 1.09-3.20), whereas basal subretinal fluid (SRF) was associated with a lower rate of atrophy (OR = 0.40, 95% CI = 0.23-0.71) and its progression (OR = 0.44, 95% CI = 0.26-0.75), leading to a slow progression rate (OR = 0.34, 95% CI = 0.14-0.83). Fibrosis development and progression were related to IRF at any visit (p < 0.001). In contrast, 36-month SRF was related to a lower rate of fibrosis (OR = 0.49, 95% CI = 0.29-0.81) and its progression (OR = 0.50, 95% CI = 0.31-0.81). Conclusion Atrophy and/or fibrosis were present in 1 of 2 nAMD patients treated for 3 years. Both, especially fibrosis, lead to vision loss. Subretinal fluid (SRF) was associated with good visual outcomes and lower rates of atrophy and fibrosis, whereas IRF yields worse visual results and a higher risk of atrophy and especially fibrosis in routine clinical practice.

High myopia and the subsequent degenerative changes of the retina, choroid, and sclera, known as myopic maculopathy (MM), are a serious visual problem in many Asian countries, and are beginning to be so in the south of Europe, especially in the Mediterranean. It is therefore necessary to carry out genetic and environmental studies to determine the possible causes of this disease. This study aims to verify if the genetic factors that have been most related to Asian populations are also associated in two Spanish cohorts. Eight SNPs from six genes (PAX6,SCO2,CCDC102B,BLID,chromosome 15q14, andCOL8A1) along with demographic, ophthalmic and environmental factors were analysed in two cohorts from a total of 365 highly myopic subjects and 177 control subjects. The genetic analysis showed thatCOL8A1SNP rs13095226 was associated with the development of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) and also seems to play an important role in the increase of axial length. The SNP rs634990 ofchromosome 15q14also showed a significant association with MM, although this was lost after the Bonferroni correction. Additional demographic and environmental factors, namely age, sex, smoking status, and pregnancy history, were also found to be associated with MM and CNV in this population.